When I left school I went straight to college to train as a hairdresser. Something I had wanted to do for as long as I could remember. I loved my college years, made some lovely friends and really enjoyed myself. Fast forward 2 years and I started working at a local salon. Life was good.… Continue reading I have a dream…

It wasn't until a Myers Briggs personality assessment at work defined me as an INFJ - the rarest personality type - that I realised why I am like I am! In a nutshell, the INFJ: Introvert, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging... is a complex character. We are generalised as 'doers' and 'dreamers' that are deeply concerned with… Continue reading Living with an introvert

I worked for many years. In fact, I got my first part time job at 13 and was employed right up until the ripe old age of 31. My last employment was as a Human Resources manager at a large company employing over 40,000 people. I was made redundant in 2012. It was one of… Continue reading Being a ‘stay at home mummy’

When our little Esmie was 6 weeks old the doctor found she had a heart murmur. Hospital tests and scans followed and thankfully Esmie was given the all clear. So many babies at not so fortunate and every two hours a baby is born in the UK with a serious heart condition. Congenital heart disease… Continue reading Tiny Tickers BBC Lifeline Appeal

Hi I'm Riley, I'm 10 years old and I am Natasha's son. I have been badgering my mum for ages to write on her blog, so today, for my first attempt, I'm going to talk about moving up to high school in September and also my wonderful mum. Firstly I'm a bit nervous about going… Continue reading A guest post by Riley, aged 10

I have been offered a 'Coping with your teenager' course from the High School my eldest will join in September. Do I need a course to face the issues that come with being a teenager? Do I need a course on how to cope with my own son? What pressures and changes will we face… Continue reading A Teen of my own

A controversial post, sure to divide opinion. Smacking. Is it ever ok? The subject has been on my mind for weeks. I witnessed a very hard smack on the bottom of a 3 year old at the park and it shook me to my core. It's the hardest I have ever seen an adult hit… Continue reading Is it ever ok?

I never used to care about brands. When I lived on my own, pre hubby and children, I would always buy 'value' over brand and couldn't understand why my parents would recoil if the beans weren't Heinz. Is it really a case of what we can afford, or what is best? I am now a… Continue reading The thrifty brandaholic

That little face says it all. Hopton is definitely our happy place. We have a caravan on the Haven site and we're back for our 1st weekend of the new season. We have all missed the place so much. The children are playing outside on the swings, slide, running wild in the beautiful sunshine where… Continue reading We’re backkkk!

What do you do when you think you can't take any more? This year has been dreadful and we're only just into March. We're spinning on a merry go round of bad luck and can't get off. It all started with a miscarriage. An unplanned pregnancy and a massive shock, but not at all unwanted… Continue reading What do you do?